Members and Membership Requirements

Institutional Review Board at the Minnesota Department of Health 

• Deanna Scher, PhD, Chair
• Kenneth Adams, PhD
• Robb Campbell, MD *
• Steven Foldes, PhD *
• Kari Gloppen, PhD
• David King, MBA *^
• Tonya Kjerland, MS
• Blain Mamo, MPH
• Daniel Pena
• Nan Watts ^
• Mary Winnett, MD *
• Jessica Wright, MA *^

* Unaffiliated with MDH
^ Non-scientist

The MDH IRB must have at least 10 members with sufficiently diverse race, gender, and cultural backgrounds to promote adequate review. 

Membership will include the following:

• At least one physician (MD, DO), who has training and experience in a medical field sufficient to assess medical risks
• At least one person with advanced training and experience in conducting scientific investigations
• At least one person whose primary work is not in scientific investigations
• At least one person who is not, and whose immediate family are not, affiliated with MDH; at least 20 percent of members must be non-MDH members

Members of the IRB are appointed from MDH staff, academic institutions, public or private health organizations, and from the community at large. The IRB seeks members with knowledge of the populations commonly included in MDH research, particularly if these populations include groups who may be vulnerable to coercion or undue influence, such as children or persons disadvantaged educationally or economically.  Additional considerations for IRB members include research, professional, or administrative expertise; community experience; availability to serve; and communication and critical thinking skills.

The Commissioner of Health appoints Board members for staggered two-year terms. 

Related

About the MDH IRB